1 stone off by Christmas!

Hi all, i'm a long term member that usually hides in the background. *waves hello*

Previously an OK runner, had a bit of a lapse and looking to get back into it.

Done a few marathons and numerous halfs in my time. Looking to sign up for a half in the spring and as of yesterday have started back running, (30mins on the dreadmill). First outdoor run this evening and whilst i'd love to break the 2hr mark in a half in the spring (previous best 2hr2mins), my main goal with running is to shed some weight. So i'm hoping.. by making this public, i will stick to my goal of shedding a stone by christmas and then can get into a proper training plan in the new year to take on a half marathon in the spring. Weighed myself on Sunday, so the starting blocks are set, it's downhill from here...

Anyone want to join me? Anyone out there used running to aid weightloss and got some words of wisdom to share? Christmas day is 11 weeks today, so allows for a nice steady weightloss, of 1.3lb a week. (or a few hiccups along the way). I think it's reasonable, thoughts?

I've lost about 2 stone this year already but have plateued the last few weeks so some 'healthy competition', support and encouragement might jsut help me kick start my weight loss again.

I have recently changed my eating habits in order to support my running plan. I now always have a breakfast (as apposed to a coffee and coisant from a coffee shop), I make my own lunch at the weekend and freeze them for the following week (as apposed to unhealthy, large baguettes with crisps and drinks, mcdonalds etc) and I have also started to cook a healthier meal for the evening. I am cutting down takeaways to one a month as a 'treat'.

I used to get through about 3 crates of Magners a week and have got that down to 1 crate over the weekend. I dont think I am ready and I dont think I could stop drinking totally, but this is my next target in the future.

My running has always consisted of going out and running as fast and as hard as I could 5/6 times a week. My legs would be aching constantly and I am surprised I didnt pick up a serious injury. I have now entered the Clowne half marathon, my first, in November and hope to run the Manchester full marathon next April. I now followed a structured plan (tempo run, speedwork, hillwork, LSR), I have 3 rest days at the moment and already I am seeing an improvement.

I'm definately up for this. I had that goal in my head and when I saw your post I thought perfect!

I'm a beginner and gradually building up my distance and attempting a 10K this sunday . I thought the weight would fall off but it hasn't, I've been so much hungrier and haven't reigned in the eating. I'm running so I can eat what I want right?...wrong

I know I've got to do diet and exercise together and that's what I started with yesterday- so far so good. I just get disheartened so quickly if I don't see the scales move downwards. I have a whinge and people says muscle weights more than fat but I do think that's a cop out....

Anyway, the countdown to christmas has begun and 1.3lbs a week is definatley reasonable and sensible.

Rats and carterusm your running sounds hardcore compared to mine but I hope to get there and be a couple of stone lighter when I do

You are a beginner so we are at different stages of our plans and you will see your progress improve over the weeks and months. Try to focus on yourself and not others, although a bit of healthy competition doenst do any harm

A lot of people say that you shouldnt jump on the scales too regularly to check your weight. But if it helps motiviate you more then go for it. I try and do it once a week now and that suits me. Dont beat yourself up if you dont find your weight dropping too quickly. We only have 1.3lbs a week to lose, should be a piece of cake. Mmmm,cake.......

What I have learnt this year is that if I have a bad day on the food or drink, then I have a bad day, so what. As long as I can get back to being healthier the next day then not much damage has been done. I try not let it bother me too much anymore. I am finding that a large part of weight loss is in the head and not just in the body.

What sort of training are you doing at the moment, how many runs, distance, time etc ?

Wondering if I could join you on this, I too have a stone to lose and am hoping to have taken a good chunk of it off by 1st December.

Over the last year I have lost 5 stone, and have been struggling with the last one for a few months now. I may have become complacent and stopped obsessing over calories, which led to gaining then losing the same five pounds over and over...enough is enough!

I have a big dinner dance coming up on the first of December and have been so looking forward to getting glammed up and wearing a dress, for the first time in years. I would love to have the last stone off, or mostly off, by then, so I can feel comfortable and look good.

I have used running to boost my weight loss, and have found it so much easier on my joints - and lungs - since the weight came off. Apparently the long, slow runs are good for weight loss, so I have been trying to up the mileage gradually.

I have a couple of good hills near me - well, I say "good," but I hate them! Are hills good for weight loss too, does anyone know?

I believe the most effective weight loss is when your hear rate is working at 60-70% of your maximum heart rate. When running up hills your heart rate will be around 70-85% of the maximum depending on how much effort you are putting in of course. Obviously hills are a good way of gaining strength.

My current plan consists of about 70% of my runs are at LSR pace, some speedwork, hillwork and a tempo run. I am training towards a half marathon in November so hopefuly my plan will help me acheive my target time of 2:00 hours....and the loss of a few pounds !!

Glad there's others up for the challenge. Over the last 18 months i've lost 3 stone, so like Springle & Carterusm it's the last bit that's proving tricky!

So the challenge is on, key is to do it in a healthy way, so no faddy tactics, just move more, eat less!

My training plan is to build up to 5 days a week, starting with small distances and building up, so ready for the half marathon in the spring. At the moment i'm planning most of my training during the week, weekends seem to be full & hectic!

I've used hill training previously as a good way of getting faster Springle, they hurt, but pay off. Not used them for weight loss, but they must help. Logic says a hilly mile burns more calories than a flat one!

I am feeling quite excited about this now - I was starting to get a little fed up with the fluctuating weight and the very stubborn final stone, but now I feel like I am really getting into the right frame of mind again.

You guys are quite inspiring with the plans for the half-marathons. I have always wanted to go further, but at the moment my long run is hovering around the 5- 7 miles, depending on how much time I have. Maybe I will seek out a half marathon close to me and start to think about getting ready for that kind of distance.

I think it would be a great way to celebrate finally getting to goal weight - something to take my mind off the scales too, for the slow weeks maybe.

Hi springle.
Don't try and do too much too soon though or that could result in injuries. Have a look at some of the training plans on here you could follow and they will increase your mileage a little at a time.
Hi Rats.
Good work on the 3st lost so far.
Lets see if we can all shed another stone, at least, before Xmas.

Carterusm, you are so right. I get very silly when I am excited and have to rein myself in a lot - when I first started running again after a five year break, I suddenly remembered everything I had loved about running, and went a bit mad. I couldn't bend my knees for weeks and had to take two weeks off, followed by 3 mile runs, 3 times a week for about 6 weeks to build up a proper base fitness.

A very silly mistake that could have seen me back on the sofa piling the weight back on, but luckily I decided to learn from it and not overdo it again.

Yesterday was a really good, positive day for me, I hope it was for everyone else too. Today is a rest day, which is difficult, but as long as I stay out of the kitchen while the kids are at school I will be fine!

Hi springle.
It's good to hear you got off to a good start yesterday. Which are you finding most difficult, not eating too much bad food or not being able to go out running as often as you like ? I find having rest days is hard as I enjoy the running so much, but when I go out again after my rest days I'm glad I'm not overdoing it as I have got to the stage now where I can do some decent length runs, feel ok during them and recover quite quickly.
I had a good day yesterday too. My eating was good, no picking between meals and no alcohol last night. I also went for an 8 mile tempo run and it felt a lot easier due to me following a proper training plan. On one hand I want to revise my half marathon target time from 2:00 to 1:50 but on the other hand I need to reel myself in and not get too carried away.
Have a good day and keep out of the kitchen

I'm well, was planning on a run last night, but am mindful of doing too much too soon, so i took the dog for a walk instead (4 month old black lab - she's keeping me busy). Interesting to see that others have the same issue as me as going all out and then either injuring themselves or blowing up. Still keen on active rest days, rather than full out rest days, but i'll stick to dog walking and maybe swimming rather than easy runs for the time being.

Found a 20 week half marathon plan that very slowly builds you up and works on the principle of below, so going to start that and see where we go, hitting the gym tonight:

Agree with Max's Mum, so going to pick up a tape measure and monitor size as well as weight. But i know i'm overweight and got some poundage to loose, so for the time being weightloss is still personally my main goal.

Have people weighed (and measured?) themselves so we have a starting point? My weigh day is going to be sundays. So i weighed in on Sunday and will be able to report any loss (fingers crossed) this sunday coming. Resisting the temptation for a sneaky mid-week weigh in. I've hidden the scales out of sight!

I am going to use my starting point as Monday morning just gone (13st 3lbs - nobody has to give their weight out on here if they dont want too but I'm happy to do so).

I am off to New York for a few days in a couple of weeks and I have no intention of taking my running stuff and I have every intention of eating American sized portions of food ! I've never been before and so obivously am really looking forward to it. If it hampers our 'lose 1 stone by christmas' challenge then so be it, if it means I only lose 1/2 stone instead of 1 stone then so be it. I can always extend the deadline to the end of January and beyond.

It looks like you have got a decent training plan so good luck with that. The dog walking will also benefit you. I have got a 12 month old springer spaniel, and like you, I am kept very much on my toes by the little sod !

Come on carterusm, some positive mental attitude here! You're going to have an awesome time in New York and still loose a stone by Christmas! I went to new york a few years ago, a run around central park is awesome. I always travel in my running trainers (an old pair that can take the abuse) and therefore the running gear takes no room at all in the suitcase. I was jetlagged big style in new york, so hit the pavement at 5am, whilst the rest of the city slept. It was lovely!

My holiday this year is a little less exotic, with a week in Cornwall booked for the first week in November, but the running shoes are coming with me, but won't be used as much as if i was at home!

That's the spirit Rats! A little positivity goes such a long way with weight loss, and I am so glad to see the people on this thread are all in a great frame of mind.

I had my weigh in on Monday, 12 stone 1 pound, very annoyed to have drifted back over the 12 mark after all my hard work, but then I really did lose control for a little while so I shouldn't be too surprised!

For me the problem of over-eating and rest days goes hand in hand; I feel so fed up at not being out running that I keep wandering into the kitchen and picking at everything. Some days it becomes an all-out binge, which is a remnant of an eating disorder that I battled for years. (Before anyone kicks me off the thread, I know this is not a starvation pact, it is about healthy eating and running, and I know the support and advice will be good for me!)

I guess I will just have to find plenty of distractions, such as going for a walk or getting the chores done - this is going to be a very clean house!

@Rats - sounds like a nice steady session at the gym for you last night. No, of course you havent scared me off ! A lot of our challenge will be having help, support and encouragement from each other so lets keep it going.

@Springle - is your house clean now ??

I had a rest day yesterday and ate reasonably well, not brilliant but not too bad. This evening is a gentle 8-10 miles that will take in some hills up in the Peaks. I think this will be one of my last evening runs in the Peaks now the nights are closing in so it will be a few months of pounding the streets. I might even try some off roading at night now I have purchased a head lamp !!

The house was super-clean until the kids got home from school, they are very good at un-tidying, but sure it just gives me more distractions for my next rest day!

Had a good run this morning, just 3 miles today as I was pushed for time but 3 miles in the lashing rain is better than no miles on the sofa. Am going to try for alternate days to avoid injury at this stage so at least my trainers might be dry by Saturday.

Rats and Carterusm, hope you both enjoy your runs tonight - take care in that wintry weather!

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